Former model Leeann Tweeden, now a news anchor, accused Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) on Thursday of groping and kissing her without consent in 2006. In 2010, the comedian-turned-politician talked about her from the Senate floor.

At the time, he was recalling when he co-hosted USO tours with Tweeden, though the only compliment he could seemingly muster for her was that she is a “beautiful woman”:

"[D]uring the show, I would — I was kind of co-host with a beautiful woman named Leeann Tweeden, and we'd do comedy routines, we'd introduce music, we'd introduce cheerleaders.

I'd go out and do a monologue, and this is something I would do — I'd done for a number of years — and I'd go out and I would say, 'You know, I've done now seven USO tours and every year I'm just more and more impressed with the U.S. military, except one thing I do not get: It's the “don't ask, don't tell” policy.'"

On Thursday, Tweeden said she felt “violated” by Franken's alleged misconduct during a preparation for a skit, adding that an encounter in which the now-senator appeared to grab her breasts while she was asleep left her feeling “embarrassed” and “belittled.”

ATCH: MSNBC Host On Franken “I'm just sitting here dumb-founded. I cannot believe all of this is happening.”

For his part, Franken said, “I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann.” Regarding the photo of him seemingly fondling Tweeden's chest, he said it was a joke “clearly intended to be funny but wasn't.”